Texas Sees Surge in Fraud Losses as Advocates Push for New Protections

Evolving scams, rising losses, and a push for stronger protections in Texas.

By Mark Hollis, AARP Texas 

AUSTIN, Texas -- As financial scams become more sophisticated, Texas advocates are intensifying their focus on policy solutions ahead of the 2027 legislative session.

The Texas Elder Justice Coalition, a statewide network working to combat financial exploitation of older adults, plays a central role in that effort. For AARP Texas, participation provides critical insight into emerging threats.

“Fraud is evolving quickly, and our response has to keep pace,” said Stephanie Mace, associate state director at AARP Texas. “The coalition helps us stay connected to what’s happening on the ground and shape solutions that better protect older Texans.”

The urgency is growing. Fraud losses in Texas have surged in recent years, with older adults disproportionately affected. AARP Texas has responded by expanding community education and outreach, including free events and workshops outlined in its Texas Shred ’Em fraud prevention campaign, which brings shredding services and scam education directly to communities statewide. AARP Texas also hosts fraud prevention workshops, virtual presentations, and telephone town halls, while volunteers lead community presentations where audiences learn to recognize and avoid scams. In addition, said Rosalinda Martinez, AARP Texas’ senior director of community strategy: “Outreach extends into everyday settings, like community events and sports venues, where we engage residents with fraud awareness resources and tips.”

At the TEJC Summit in mid-June, advocates emphasized a clear trend: scams are becoming faster, more coordinated, and harder to detect. Technology is enabling real-time financial exploitation, while traditional schemes, such as impersonation and investment fraud, remain widespread.

“Today’s scams are more immediate and more targeted,” Mace said. “That makes prevention and enforcement much more challenging.”

Cryptocurrency kiosks, or so-called “crypto-ATMs,” and related technologies have emerged as a major concern. AARP research shows these machines are used in scams because transactions move quickly and are difficult to reverse.

“We’re seeing these machines show up more often in fraud cases, and the lack of consistent safeguards in Texas puts consumers at risk,” said Andrea Earl, associate state director at AARP Texas.

Some local governments are beginning to respond. In May, the San Antonio City Council unanimously approved an ordinance requiring cryptocurrency kiosks to display clear warning signs about common scams — an effort to give consumers a moment to pause before completing potentially irreversible transactions.

“This is a meaningful step to raise awareness and help prevent losses before they happen,” said Lisa A. Rodriguez, AARP Texas director. “It shows how targeted, commonsense protections can make a real difference for Texans.”

Rodriguez said action like this is important, and broader policy solutions are still needed. AARP has called for stronger protections nationwide, including licensing, transaction limits, and clearer warnings.

Looking ahead to the 2027 legislative session, Rodriguez said AARP Texas plans to prioritize stronger consumer protections for cryptocurrency kiosks. “Stronger safeguards are essential if we’re going to stay ahead of how these scams are evolving,” she said. 

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Texas Sees Surge in Fraud Losses as Advocates Push for New Protections 

Nursing home worker fired after accepting $15,000 ‘gift’ from resident

By Clark Kauffman 

An Iowa nursing home worker fired for allegedly accepting $15,000 from a resident of the home has been denied unemployment benefits.

According to state records, certified nursing assistant and medication aide Gregory Reid worked full time for Grandview Care Center in Oelwein from October 2023 until April 28, 2026, when he was fired. Reid then filed for unemployment benefits, which led to a hearing before Administrative Law Judge Jasmina Sarajlija.

According to Sarajlija’s findings in the case, Grandview Care Center is a nursing home tasked with protecting residents from dependent adult abuse, which includes financial exploitation. As a result, the home has a policy barring employees from accepting any gifts, tips or gratuities from residents of the home.

The policy, according to Sarajlija, also states if a resident insists on giving a gift to an employee, the employee is required to report it to the administrator to allow the facility to handle the situation with the resident.

According to Sarajlija’s findings, the administrator of the home received information from a resident’s friend on April 1, 2026, alleging the resident had told her Reid had accepted money from her.

A subsequent investigation allegedly confirmed the resident wrote three $5,000 checks to Reid between Feb. 27, 2026 and March 13, 2026. Reid allegedly deposited all three checks at a local credit union within a week of the checks being written.

Reid admitted accepting the money during the investigation, according to Sarajlija’s findings, and he was fired for violating the home’s gift policy.

At his unemployment hearing, Reid allegedly acknowledged accepting the money from the resident, and explained the resident knew he was struggling financially and offered to help him out, stating that she and her husband had helped others through school and she wanted to do the same for him.

According to Sarajlija’s findings, Reid said he did not solicit the gift or pressure the woman to give him the money, indicating he knew acceptance of it was against policy and he could lose his job over it.

Sarajlija recently ruled Reid’s conduct amounted to workplace misconduct that disqualified him from collecting unemployment benefits, pointing out that Reid was aware of the home’s policy.

“Despite this knowledge, (Reid) still accepted financial assistance from a resident that he was tasked with protecting from harm and abuse, including financial harm and abuse,” Sarajlija stated in her ruling. “Taking money from a resident on three separate occasions, a total of $15,000, is not an isolated mistake but a pattern that may have continued had the facility not received a report about it from the resident’s friend.”

Court records indicate no criminal charges were filed in the case and Grandview Care Center was not cited by state inspectors for dependent adult abuse.

The Iowa Capital Dispatch was not able to reach Reid for comment.

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Nursing home worker fired after accepting $15,000 ‘gift’ from resident